Chocolate Chia Pudding

This is so tasty you won’t be feeling guilty!! And when you use real raw cacao – it has nutritional benefits – not that that gives you the excuse to eat it all the time or tons of it. To think that healthy, nutritional things can actually be really tasty and easy to make – well makes life more fun I think!! 🙂 This is raw and vegan – but you wouldn’t know it!!

Chia has been around for a very long time – it was used for centuries by the Aztecs of Mexico and the Indians of the Southwest of America, these tiny seeds formed part of their staple diet. Aztec warriors were said to use Chia to as a high energy ‘supplement’ on their conquest.

Google Chia as there are many stories on it since it’s been around for so long and it has many health benefits – especially again a good source of protein and omega-3 oils, a lot of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. Not bad for a tiny little thing!!

Due to their antioxidant qualities, chia seeds don’t go rancid as quickly as flaxseeds do. Store Chia in a glass jar or in a sealed container to help keep it longer. Ground chia seeds should be placed in a container with a tight-fitting lid, and may also keep a month or more.

You can add Chia to many things but when you add it to a liquid remember it will become gelatenous – therefore can make good puddings or thickener!!

– 2 tbsp Chia seed in 1 cup water and let soak for at least an hour – the longer the better as the softer the seed becomes but it will work with an hour. It will become gelatenous and I did add a little more water to mine as it got a bit too thick, add up to 1/2 cup more of water if it is too thick

– 3 tbsp raw Cacao Powder

– 4 tbsp Agave (or Honey or Brown Rice syrup)

– 1 Avocado (or you can also use 2 Bananas or 1 peeled Mango)

the fruit will make it a little more sweet than the Avocado so you can always cut the sweetener back a tbsp

– 1 tsp Vanilla

Once the Chia has soaked for at least an hour, throw all ingredients into a Vitamix or Blender and blend until smooth.

If you are going to serve it right away, throw in 2-3 ice cubes to make it cooler.

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My kids simply love this recipe! They’re 6 and 8 years old and while they occasionally crave some Mars bars or random sweets they see advertised on TV, they don’t have a sweet tooth so I don’t have to reduce their sweet portions. Most of my desserts are homemade and they help me make them; they usually have this pudding with some splices of watermelon or some juicy, organic strawberries.

Love your recipes.. so simple and so delicious.. What a gift you are to us all, inspiring us that we can do it.. Jodi, you make preparing healthy Easy and Fun. Thanks for all you contribute. You are giving me a sense of renewal that I can expand the borders of my food preparation, feeling so proud, that I have created something special, that is healthy and conscious. I feel so alive just sharing this.. Thanks so much. Healthfully with Deliciousness Yours